A skit is a short, funny performance that tells a simple story or makes a joke. Skits usually last just a few minutes and often exaggerate situations to make them humorous. You might perform a skit at a school talent show, at summer camp, or during a class presentation.

Skits are different from full plays because they're brief and focus on one funny idea or scenario. A group of friends might create a skit about what happens when a time traveler accidentally shows up in a math class, or how different people react when they discover a talking dog. The key is keeping it short and entertaining.

Many comedy shows on television use skits to make people laugh. Saturday Night Live, for example, strings together multiple skits in each episode, with actors playing exaggerated characters in silly situations.

Creating a skit requires teamwork: someone writes the script, actors memorize their lines and practice their timing, and sometimes people make simple props or costumes. The best skits often come from observing real life and then stretching the truth until it becomes funny. If you've ever acted out a joke with friends to make others laugh, you've already performed a kind of skit.